There are still plenty of games to be played, but the Waterloo softball team is bringing many sports lovers in the community back to 1989 with its fantastic 26-0 start under first-year coach Matt Mason.

The 1989 team coached by Rick Keefe advanced to the state tournament and finished with a 29-6 record.

The Bulldogs picked up recent wins over Triad, Althoff, Jerseyville and Civic Memorial to keep the dream of an undefeated season alive.

The Bulldogs blasted Civic Memorial at home on Wednesday, 12-1.

Last Wednesday, Waterloo took it to Triad in a 15-2 win. A 10-run second inning keyed the victory as Kylie Albrecht, Hannah King, Emelia Modglin and Ashley Reeder collected two hits apiece.

It was a similar result on Saturday as the ‘Dogs won 12-2 against Althoff. Kaitlyn Storm went 3-for-4 with two doubles and pitcher Kasey Bradley struck out 14 in the victory.

Jerseyville posed a serious threat to the unbeaten streak on Monday, but the Bulldogs survived with a 4-3 road win. Taylor Augustine went 3-for-4 and Albrecht scored two runs. Bradley scattered five hits and struck out eight in the pitcher’s circle.

Modglin continues to lead the way on offense, hitting .521. Albrecht is hitting .446.
Bradley is 17-0 with a 1.22 ERA.

Mason is proud of his players, but still thinks his team can improve in certain aspects of the game.

“We need to improve our short game, hitting cutoffs and our baserunning to take our team to the next level,” he said. “Kasey (pitching), Emelia and Kylie (hitting and fielding) continue to be solid and Kaitlyn Storm has started to swing the bat like she’s capable of after returning to our lineup from injury.”

The Bulldogs host Civic Memorial on Wednesday before traveling to Wesclin on Friday and Alton on Saturday.
Eagles win again

The Columbia Eagles are putting together a strong season of their own, stringing together easy wins to improve to 17-2.

Last Tuesday, Caitlyn Touchette went 3-for-4 at the plate and pitcher Brina Rujawitz struck out 10 in a 7-2 win at Red Bud.

That was followed by a doubleheader sweep of Collinsville and Centralia at home on Saturday.

Touchette went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and Rachel Garcia, Calli Wibbenmeyer, Taryn Pena and Kalli Farmer added two hits apiece in the 11-0 win over Collinsville.

Garcia was 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs and Pena added two hits in the 13-0 stomping of Centralia.

On Monday, the Eagles continued their winning ways with a 14-0 win over Marissa. Garcia went 3-for-4 with two triples.

Columbia played Breese Central on Tuesday and will play at Wesclin on Thursday.

Other softball action
Gibault topped Valmeyer on Thursday, 8-7. Paige Wriston went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Sophie Purcell added three hits for the Hawks.
Samantha Sensel had a 3-for-4 day for the Pirates.

Dupo continues its strong spring, improving to 17-6 with four straight wins.

The Tigers defeated Marissa twice, Breese Central and Lebanon in recent play.

Megan Brown (.618 average, five home runs) and Rachel Donald (.474, 20 RBIs) are leading the way offensively for the Tigers, who host Valmeyer on Thursday.